Tag Archive for: Goes

Hibernian FC Goes Greener with Dennis ES-860’s

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Hibernian FC Goes Greener with Dennis ES-860’s: Hibernian Football Club, celebrated as Scotland’s greenest football club, has made significant strides in sustainable grounds management with the purchase of the Dennis ES-860 battery-powered mower.

Head Groundsman Steven Thomas has found the ES-860 invaluable for its maintenance efficiency, environmental benefits, and ability to meet early game day demands, reinforcing the club’s commitment to top-tier pitch quality and sustainability.

Hibernian FC Goes Greener with Dennis ES-860’s

Hibernian FC Goes Greener with Dennis ES-860’s

The Dennis ES-860 is a 34-inch battery-powered turf management system, renowned for its versatility, with 13 interchangeable cassette options that handle a wide array of essential tasks like cutting, scarifying, brushing, and verticutting. For Steven, this level of flexibility has been transformative in his approach to maintaining the stadium pitch at Hibernian.

“We’ve had the ES-860 for almost twelve months, and it’s exceeded all of my expectations,” Steven explains. “When I joined the club, we had limited machinery, and upgrading it was a priority. After testing a few brands, the difference with the ES-860 was night and day. As soon as I tried it on the pitch, I knew it was the one for us. The ease of use was far superior to anything we tried.”

Switching to battery power was also a strategic choice, aligning with the club’s environmental goals. As the first Scottish football club to join the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, Hibernian is deeply committed to sustainability. “When I first started, Hibs had recently won an award for being the greenest football club in Scotland, and so getting the ES-860 was a no-brainer—it aligned perfectly with that recognition.”

The ES-860 has made a considerable difference in daily routines for Steven and his team. With its low noise level, the ES-860 enables the grounds team to start work earlier without disturbing nearby residents. “Where we store the equipment, there are adjacent houses,” says Steven. “Starting petrol mowers at 7 a.m. is challenging due to noise regulations, so having the ES-860 lets us get an early start without disturbing anyone.”

This quiet operation is invaluable for early kick-off days, especially when games are scheduled at 12 p.m. on Sundays. “For Sky Sports games, we often need the pitch ready by 8 a.m., which means cutting at 4 a.m. The ES-860 lets us meet this demand. It’s been a game-changer for those high-pressure mornings.”

This mower has become central to Hibernian’s daily maintenance, used up to twice a day in the summer and at least once a day during the winter. “The quality of cut and the quality of finish is first-class,” Steven adds.

The battery life of the ES-860 is another highlight. “After a year of use, the battery performance remains exceptional. Our rule of thumb is that it should be able to handle a full pitch cut once or twice, and it consistently does that without any issues. The battery life hasn’t dipped, which is key for me.”

Working with Dennis has also proved valuable beyond the machine itself. “The support from Dennis has been fantastic. In the past, I’ve had new machinery where, once sold, you never hear from them again. Dennis is different—the team is always on hand, ready to help, and go out of their way if I need them.”

With features that support both environmental initiatives and practical day-to-day demands, the Dennis ES-860 has become indispensable at Hibernian FC.

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit www.dennisuk.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Dennis on Twitter and Instagram @DennisMowers and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/DennisMowersUK. You can also view the latest Dennis videos by visiting www.youtube.com/DennisMowers

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GreenMech goes to the heart of operations

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GreenMech goes to the heart of operations: The purchase of an Arborist 150D Max from GreenMech has changed operations for the Heart of England Forest, providing usable woodchip to projects across their 7,500 acres of forest habitat.

As the only woodchipper on their fleet, the purchase in February 2024 is compact yet powerful enough to tackle coppicing projects and pruning works as the charity strive to create and manage woodland across Worcestershire and Warwickshire.

GreenMech goes to the heart of operations

GreenMech goes to the heart of operations

The Heart of England Forest (HOEF) is looking to create and manage a 30,000 acre forest with the aim of restoring forest cover, biodiversity and peoples connection with nature. Ian Hayward is a Senior Forest Ranger and works with a 21-strong forestry team on the broad range of maintenance needed in a woodland setting. “In the summer we’re access mowing our trail networks, looking after our young trees or conducting biodiversity surveys, then in winter it’s tree planting and maintenance, including coppicing and selective thinning – which is where our new GreenMech woodchipper comes in” he explains.

“As a local company to us, and proud British manufacturer, GreenMech was our first port of call and the machines we saw seriously impressed. After trying a couple of models, we opted for the Arborist 150D Max – diesel-powered, capable of processing all the by-products from our forestry work, and meeting both our budget and the needs of the team.”

The 150D Max is the latest addition to GreenMech’s Arborist range, one of the most successful and sought-after 6” chipper collections on the market. Powered by a 25hp Kubota diesel engine, the Arborist 150D Max utilises GreenMech’s disc-blade chipping technology and ‘No-Stress’ in-feed system to offer reliable, durable performance on timber and bushy brash.

Ian goes on to emphasise the simplicity of both the purchase process and the chippers operation. “We received training on the machine and the team find its straight-forward operation a really positive feature. The communication we’ve had from GreenMech throughout has been top-notch, especially from Neal Hussey who went out of his way to help us throughout the procurement process.”

“It’s currently our only chipper and will be really helpful when we’re doing coppicing projects as well as being utilised for clearance of material from tree safety and pruning work.” He continues, “As the forest grows, the amount of maintenance will increase the demand for the Arborist 150D Max with things like selective thinning needed more frequently. Here, we can turn the top end brash into woodchip for use on our woodland trails.”

“With this woodchipper we will be able to handle greater volumes of material and repurpose it for more positive projects – it will change how we operate.”

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Sandy Town Council ‘goes electric’ with ET Lander

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Sandy Town Council ‘goes electric’ with ET Lander: Sandy Town Council has invested in an eco-friendly ET Lander utility vehicle from Etesia UK, via local dealer RT Machinery, as it takes steps to reduce carbon emissions before 2030.

The vehicle marks an important step in the ‘council’s commitment to improving the environment of Sandy’.

Sandy Town Council 'goes electric' with ET Lander

Sandy Town Council ‘goes electric’ with ET Lander

Underlining its commitment to the environment and completing one of the actions within its Environmental Plan, Sandy Town Council has confirmed the purchase from local dealer RT Machinery to replace a diesel truck which was coming to the end of its life.

Following several months of research and a number of successful demonstrations with RT Machinery, the council agreed that the new eco-friendly, efficient and long-range all-electric vehicle would offer a versatile solution for the council’s town and green spaces maintenance.

Town Mayor, Cllr Pettitt said: “With 2030 in mind, I warmly welcome the decision taken by the council.

“This compact, all-electric vehicle with zero CO2 emissions will provide our outdoor team with greater flexibility in the way they work throughout the town, given its compact design and off-road capabilities, most especially in the cemetery, recreation and amenity areas and the Pinnacle and Sand Hills.

“The battery will have sufficient range for a full day’s work and can serve as a power source for additional rechargeable, portable equipment such as power saws and strimmers, thus reducing and in time eliminating our carbon footprint.”

After making its debut in 2021, the Etesia ET Lander has taken the industry by storm. 100% electric, spacious, well-equipped and user-friendly, it is built on a robust chassis and has an array of options including a three-way tipper bed with dual control from the fully fitted two-seater cab or by remote control when outside the vehicle.

The new models are fully N1 homologation compliant meaning that the ET Lander is fully road legal along with being able to be used off road. These upgraded models also feature lithium-ion batteries which ensures that the range of the ET Lander will extend to 100km and have a charger system compatible with a standard type 2EV car charger.

The Etesia ET Lander utility vehicle comes complete with a comprehensive two-year warranty and five-year warranty on batteries.

For further information, please contact Etesia UK on 01295 680120 or visit www.etesia.co.uk.

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Etesia UK on Twitter @EtesiaUK and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/EtesiaUK. You can also view the latest Etesia videos by visiting www.youtube.com/EtesiaUK.

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TV presenter goes Blooming Wild for Euroflor Flower Seed

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TV presenter goes Blooming Wild for Euroflor Flower Seed: Lynne Allbutt is a writer, TV presenter, speaker, and an advocate for Euroflor Flower Seed.

In her recent column ‘Green Scene’ written for the Western Mail newspaper, Lynne pays the biggest compliment. “Whenever I use or talk about wildflowers, there is only one company I recommend and that’s Rigby Taylor who are part of Origin Amenity Solutions.  They provided the seed for the memorable wildflower meadows at the Olympic Park back in 2012, and more locally, have provided a lot of seed for Monmouthshire Council, and a few years ago for some of the roundabouts in Blaenau Gwent. If you have seen any of those displays, you won’t have forgotten them.”

TV presenter goes Blooming Wild for Euroflor Flower Seed

TV presenter goes Blooming Wild for Euroflor Flower Seed

Lynne runs a garden design business and is a gardener at heart with a passion for the outdoors and is often described as a Champion for Mother Nature.

She continues, “There are numerous fabulous mixes to choose from, making sure there is something suitable for every site and situation. Euroflor offers a wide range of mixes including horticultural cultivars and/or UK native and naturalised species in varying combinations.  Mixes are available for spring or autumn sowing and there are 11 mixes to choose from in the Euroflor Project Pollin-8 range.  This project is a major initiative at reversing the decline in pollinating insects by including high yielding nectar and pollen flower mixtures.

Or you can choose from the ‘Flora Native’ range, a collection of Native UK provenance wildflower seed mixes. This seed can be sown all year round as long as the moisture and temperature is conducive to germination and growth.  Specific mixes are available for wild birds, and bees and butterflies as well as for different soils and situations, like woodland, wetland, coastal and flowering lawns.”

Lynne’s article is packed with sensible and useful advice. “If you haven’t sown your flower seed yet, get them in the ground as soon as possible.  The weather conditions can change so quickly and there is still time to have a hot, dry summer, so a good start will be helpful for them.

I’ve just sowed a lot of wildflower seed around the edge of my veg patch, on a couple of verges and on an awkward bank.  It’s not too late, and they’ll provide a welcome splash of colour and food for pollinators at the end of the summer.

It is important to remember that good wildflower seed is not ‘free seed’ or even ‘cheap seed’, but it can still be cost effective, covering much bigger areas than shrubs or herbaceous plants and is often more cost effective – and safer – than strimming difficult areas.  Interestingly it is also a cost-effective option for large, grassed areas that would normally be mown regularly.  Mowing paths through swathes of wildflowers has to be one of the most fantastic ways of utilising any green space.  Wildflower banks are particularly striking as the blooms are ‘displayed’ more effectively and using wildflower areas between boundaries and the main sections of a garden is an excellent ‘transitional trick’ – and treat.

I encourage everyone to ‘experiment’ with a patch of ‘properly-done’ wildflowers to see the benefits for yourself.  Attracting pollinators, uplifting the mood, dealing with difficult areas, including poor soil, are just some of the boxes ticked by this under-used flower power.”

Lynne concludes, “Most people who had bad experience using wildflower seeds was simply because they used inferior seed.  I am determined to change this and encourage everyone to have a patch of wildflowers in their garden, whether you go for a handful or a hectare. David Carvey at Origin Amenity Solutions is happy to advice on the best seed for your requirements and conditions and is also generous with practical advice.  You can contact him on 07774 943629.”

To find out more about Lynne or to contact her visit https://www.lynneallbutt.co.uk/

For more information on Euroflor flower seed visit https://www.rigbytaylor.com/flower-seed/

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Campey goes big for BTME 2022

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Campey goes big for BTME 2022: For the first time, Campey Turf Care Systems will be showcasing models from nine product ranges at BTME 2022.

The exhibition in Harrogate is one of the most popular events in the greenkeeping calendar, attracting turf professionals from across the world. In March, attendees will see over 15 Campey machines in one place with equipment covering everything from renovations and aeration to overseeding and utility vehicles.

Campey goes big for BTME 2022

Campey goes big for BTME 2022

To exhibit this bumper range of machinery, Campey has stands 248 and 249 in Red Zone North, along with their renowned product specialists who will be on hand to give expert advice, talk turf and catch up after a year away from Harrogate.

With the 2022 edition of BTME delayed until March, Campey viewed it as an opportunity to bring the latest turf technology to greenkeepers who may have missed out during the pandemic.

Campey Director Lee Morgado explains: “We are delighted to be going back to Harrogate after a long time away with our most extensive presence ever at BTME.

“Turf technology moves quickly, and maintenance trends move with it. We’re seeing more and more people renovating tees and other areas of their course with the Universe® rotor, and the desire for all-electric options like the AllTrec Tool Carrier is growing as well.

“For us, this is an excellent opportunity to bring all of those machines together for people to assess the latest options we have and look into new maintenance practices they might have spoken about or seen on social media.

“Even though we’ve all still been out and working directly with customers, there’s nothing like a show to catch up with people from the industry, and we’re looking forward to welcoming everyone onto the Campey stand.”

The machinery line-up will encompass every area of maintenance. Topdressing is covered by the industry leading Dakota range, and the effective TB220 and UniRake complete the grooming line-up.

The combination of the Universe® Rotor and Vredo Super Compact, an increasingly popular duo for renovating tees, will be on display with advice from Campey product specialists on how to get the best from the equipment.

Campey’s all-electric products will also be shown with the AllTrec Tool Carrier featuring mowing, hedge cutting, weed brush, and burning attachments.

These staple industry favourites are joined by machines from Omarv, Koro, New Holland, Campey and Imants, with new products to be launched at the show.

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